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Red Krill Oil

For years now, nutritionists and scientists have been touting the health effects of omega-3s. Their health benefits are numerous and their sources run the gamut from fish to shellfish to plants. Omega-3s appear to be here to stay, and one great way to get more of them into your diet is to buy red krill oil online.

Krill oil has emerged as a healthy and sustainable source of omega-3 fatty acids, but there still remains some mystery around this great nutritional resource. If you're thinking about taking a red krill oil supplement, here are a few things to consider.

Red Krill Oil Information

According to Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, a registered dietician and nutritionist for the Dr. Oz Show, red krill oil is derived from krill, a species of crustacean that are consumed in mass by whales in the Antarctic Ocean. Krill are very similar to shrimp. Like all seafood, they are a great source of omega-3s, but there are a few reasons why krill may be viewed as superior to other fish oils.

Red Krill Oil Benefits

First, let's discuss the broader benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are essential, which means the body can't produce them at a high enough level to sustain their presence. This means you must derive them through food and nutritional supplements.

Ideally, a human diet consists of a health balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Unfortunately, however, the typical western diet rarely achieves this balance. This can lead to health problems, as omega-3s are meant to decrease inflammation (which is promoted by omega-6 fatty acids). This chronic imbalance has been known to lead to fatigue, problems with heart health, mood and behavioural disorders, poor circulation and problems with memory.

Omega-3 supplementation may hold a number of benefits. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the Mediterranean diet - which includes high levels of omega-3 fatty acids - has been shown to be one of the best diet options in terms of promoting heart health. People following this diet enjoyed higher HDL cholesterol (often referred to as 'good' cholesterol) levels and a reduced risk of hypertension (high blood pressure).

In addition to those people who want to help prevent cardiovascular disease, people with diabetes or prediabetes can also stand to benefit from omega-3s, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Diabetics often have low levels of HDL cholesterol, so supplementation with omega-3s can be important for combating this.

In fact, there are myriad benefits to omega-3 supplementation: Some other conditions which may be prevented or lessened by omega-3 fatty acids include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, depression and anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), photo dermatitis, inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), cancer and macular degeneration. There is also some evidence suggesting that omega-3s may help prevent cognitive decline.

Now that we've sold you on omega-3s, you may be wondering why krill oil in particular is beneficial.

According to Kirkpatrick, krill oil may be a more sustainable source than other marine creatures. Because they are at the bottom of the food chain and are fished from a relatively remote location in the ocean, they also tend to be low in toxins and mercury.

Furthermore, there is some evidence that the DHA in krill oil may be better absorbed by the brain due to structural molecular differences between oil from krill and that from most other seafood sources.

Red Krill Oil Side Effects

Because red krill oil is a food-based supplement and contains nutrients that are natural for human consumption, there are rarely any side effects associated with taking krill oil. As with any fish oil-based supplement, you should check your product to ensure it has been screened for mercury content. Additionally, ensure that you consume all of your red krill oil by the use-by date, as fish oils are prone to going rancid after the expiration date has been reached.

According to WellWise.org, you should check with your doctor before taking a krill oil supplement if you are taking anticoagulants such as warfarin or aspirin due to the blood thinning effects of fish oil supplementation. Additionally, pregnant women should always check with their doctors before taking any supplements.